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đ” “I get by with a little help from my friendsâ đ”
– The Beatles
Sing it, Ringo! So true!
Homeschooling parents have a lot on our plates and, depending on the day or our stage of life, the help we need often takes different forms.
But there are also kinds of support and encouragement that are universally helpful to all homeschoolers. The following three categories of help have been consistently valuable to me in all stages of our homeschooling so far.
So, whether youâre just starting out or rounding the final curve in the race, look for help in these three ways to support your familyâs homeschooling journey.
A Day in the Life
When we were just starting out, I couldnât get enough of âday in the lifeâ blog posts and books. I desperately wanted to understand what it is homeschoolers actually do all day.
Even now, years later, Iâm still inspired by other homeschoolerâs days! They help me break out of our own ruts and find new ways to change up our routines. And they remind me of the endless variety of ways to homeschool!
Find books (like this one) that share the stories of different homeschooling families. Or check out the archives of the Day in the Life series at Simple Homeschool. And donât worry⊠since these awesome homeschooling families published their stories, I donât think itâs considered snooping if we take a peek into their day-to-day. đ
Veteran Advice
Depending who you ask, youâll find weâre in the 2nd or 3rd generation of the modern homeschooling movement in America. Wonderful, courageous homeschooling families in the 1970âs and 80âs have paved the way for us today. Back in those days, there may not have been many homeschool veterans to turn to for advice – but that is definitely not the case today!
When youâre knee deep in diapers, sibling rivalry and macânâcheese, you desperately need something that veteran homeschoolers have. The lifeline they have for you is PERSPECTIVE. Theyâve seen more of the picture. Theyâve seen it work.
Seek out wisdom and encouragement from veteran homeschool parents. If you can, try to meet some of these wisdom-givers in real life by jumping into your local homeschool circles.
Note: For the other introverts out there like me, this might take some extra intentionality and boldness but it is SO worth it. Without exception, every homeschooling parent Iâve ever asked for advice has been more than happy to share what theyâve learned. They donât bite!
In addition to your IRL mentors, homeschooling blogs and online groups offer a tremendous amount of wisdom and advice from experienced homeschoolers. Reading through veteran homeschool mom advice posts like this one or this one can quickly pull you out of a homeschooling funk and point you back in the direction of what really matters.
Practical & Specific Tips
General encouragement is a blessing but sometimes you also need specifics.
As in, how, specifically, do I teach my 9 year old division when my 7 year old is trying to cut his own hair and my 2 year old is playing âLet it Snow!â with the baking powder?
As crazy-making and isolating as those situations may feel, remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Thereâs someone else out there whoâs tackled a similar challenge to the one youâre facing right now. Theyâve been there and done that so they can give awesome, specific tips and advice.
Does homeschooling with littles underfoot seem impossible? Check out this post! Worried your hormones are ruining your kidâs education? Thereâs a post for that. Need practical ideas on how to approach your homeschooling day? Here are some great tips!
Our homeschooling community is one of our greatest resources. Donât let excuses (too busy, too embarassed, etc.) get in the way! There is so much good advice out there – all you need to do is ask (or click)!
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